If you are reading this, then you may be wondering about Candida (yeast) as a cause of your medical problems. So, based on my 33 years of evaluating and treating for yeast overgrowth, let me set you straight. Yes! Yeast could certainly be the cause of your disease and is often the cause of many patients’ multiple problems. There is no sign or symptom that cannot be associated with it.

Everyone has some Candida albicans because it is part of the normal flora of our intestine. It was put there to protect us, like a natural antibiotic, from pathogenic enteric organisms including Salmonella, Shigella, and Typhoid fever. Like everything in Nature, the key is balance. In our body, which is made up of around 300 trillion cells, is another body of about 300 trillion cells living within our gastrointestinal tract, made up of our microbiological or bacterial flora. This community of helpful organisms can be altered or destroyed when we take antibiotics, steroids, hormones, and an unhealthy diet rich in refined carbohydrates and sugars.

How do you know if yeast is contributing to your problems?

You can look for Candida in your stool, vaginal secretions, and even from scraping the inside of your mouth. Or, you could analyze your urine for the metabolites produced by yeast. An Organic Acid Analysis performed on your urine may reveal the presence of such metabolites as d-arabinose, citramalic and tartaric acids, and several others. These are not metabolites natural to humans, so if you find them, you know they must belong to something else living in your body, such as Candida. Organic Acid Analysis is routinely used in diagnosing our patients as a first step towards yeast eradication. Kits are available from the Center.

Most women can easily diagnose if they have yeast vaginitis by the white odorless discharge accompanied by itching. But you must remember the vagina and also the prostate in men are only opportunistic sites. ALL Candida comes from the GI tract.

If we have Candida, is it really all that harmful to the body?

Although this may be hard to believe, taking an antibiotic can alter the flora of your gut for as long as two years. This alone explains why Candida can be so damaging. The proper balance of flora in your gut provides a strong foundation for good immunity.

Candida has at least 90 antigenic foci on its outer membrane, which cross react with multiple tissues of the body in what we call autoimmunity. This is especially true for ovarian and thyroid tissues. Autoimmunity is the mechanism by which many of man’s enigmatic diseases are caused. We may be especially vulnerable to disruption of our endocrine glands’ function through this process of autoimmunity.

Candida albicans overgrowth as a cause for celiac disease or gluten intolerance is also being actively researched. In gluten intolerance, a person is unable to properly digest gluten in wheat, oats, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, or anything containing these grains. When people with gluten intolerance consume gluten-containing grains, their intestines become so inflamed the intestinal villi are gradually destroyed and the person suffers many symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, unexplained weight loss or even weight gain, irritable bowel, skin rashes, or unresolved nutrient deficiencies. Even chronic headaches, neurological symptoms, mood swings, and changes in behavior, can be provoked by gluten intolerance, since the breakdown products of gluten adversely affect the brain and nervous system. The gliadin portion of the gluten protein is thought to be the component of gluten that is so toxic to gluten-intolerant people. A laboratory test for celiac disease measures antibodies in a patient’s blood against gliadin (anti-gliadin antibody) and against their own body’s tissue transglutaminase (anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody).

“Is Candida albicans a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease?” was the title of a research article published in the highly respected medical journal, The Lancet [reference below]. The researchers found Candida albicans contains a protein in its cell wall called “hyphal wall protein 1” or HWP1 that is very similar in its structure to components of gliadin. In addition, Candida can actually use its human host’s tissue transglutaminase to adhere to the intestinal wall. Researchers are looking at the possibility that when Candida becomes attached to a person’s intestines and their immune system tries to get rid of it, antibodies are produced that attack both gliadin and transglutaminase, since these are similar or identical to components within Candida’s cell wall. Unfortunately, these antibodies could also trigger full-blown celiac disease in the unsuspecting person. This is yet another reason why overgrowth of Candida is not to be taken lightly. The researchers went further to hypothesize that some patients who are gluten intolerant but do not improve with a gluten-free diet, might be able to improve if Candida overgrowth was effectively treated.

Dr. Billy Crook was one of the first physicians to call our attention to the dangers of Candida. When he wrote The Yeast Connection, many of us began to think that the sun rose and set on this little microorganism called Candida albicans. Dr. Crook and many other doctors paid a heavy price from the medical establishment who did not agree. But Dr. Crook was right–problems with yeast must be considered in any patient with unexplained multi-system disease.

How do you treat an overgrowth of Candida?

Dr. Crook always liked questioning his fellow physicians who were actively working with patients to overcome yeast overgrowth, in order to learn what they found to be successful treatments. I was no exception. He quoted me in many of his books as saying, “A therapeutic trial with a systemic anti-fungal drug is, in my opinion, the most effective way of identifying yeast as the cause of a patient’s problems,” and a major step in yeast eradication. If the patient improves dramatically when on the anti-fungal drug, yeast is most likely at least one of the major causes of his problems. We’ve been helping patients successfully overcome yeast-related illnesses for over 30 years.

Unfortunately it is hard to find physicians open-minded enough to look for the presence of yeast or to write a prescription for anti-fungal drugs for yeast eradication. I am often amazed to see patients coming to us from all over the country for treatment of yeast because they cannot get their own doctors to treat them for this condition.

Although treating Candida is important, preventing it is just as important. If taking antibiotics is a major cause, then how do you prevent an overgrowth of Candida if you are prescribed an antibiotic? Using large and generous doses of a well-balanced probiotic with your antibiotic is one way. Taking the anti-fungal drug Nystatin with the antibiotic is another way, but again you need a physician who understands the importance of preventing yeast overgrowth and is willing to work with you.

To make this point, I would like to share my experience specifically with children with autism. When taking the history of these children, we very often see they’ve had multiple ear infections and have been treated with multiple antibiotics, resulting in major GI flora imbalances. So it should come as no surprise that yeast becomes a major factor for these children. Although autism is a complex multi-cause disorder, I find yeast to be very prominent as a cause. Treating with a systemic anti-fungal often results in dramatic reversal of these children’s symptoms, including problems with behavior and focus. When yeast recurs many of the symptoms recur, and when treated again the signs and symptoms abate. This is the pattern often seen when yeast is a major cause and why I believe it is important to do a therapeutic trial of a systemic anti-fungal and a comprehensive program for yeast eradication.

What can you do to get started?

The Center is happy to talk with any patient who feels they might have a problem related to Candida. You can call our New Patient Coordinator, Cathy, at (843) 572-1600 to talk with her and set up an appointment for evaluation and treatment.

It’s a tragedy! We all know someone who has faithfully gotten an annual physical (including blood tests and EKG) from their doctor, and the doctor has happily reported that the results show no evidence of cardiovascular or other disease. Your friend feels secure, believing that his preventive measures of regular exercise and prudent diet seem to be working well.

Yet, that same person experiences a heart attack or stroke within weeks of seeing his doctor! How could someone be assured that he’s doing well and still get a heart attack or stroke? What went wrong?

This is a question that doctors have long agonized over—but are recently getting more satisfying answers. Beginning in 1948, researchers began a comprehensive study of 5,000 Americans to try to identify and understand cardiovascular disease risk factors. What they found from this now famous Framingham Heart Study was that there is inconsistency between the results of our routine laboratory testing and the incidence of heart disease.

The Framingham study revealed that 80 percent of patients who had a cardiovascular event (heart attack or stroke) showed results from routine blood lipid profile tests for cholesterol, triglycerides, etc., similar to the normal population who did not have cardiovascular disease. This implied that the traditional lipid panel was not capable of being an accurate “key” to determining true risk. In a research study reported in The American Journal of Cardiology, it was demonstrated that the usual “cholesterol” panel was only 40 percent predictive for revealing coronary heart disease. Why?

We now have the answers to the lack of predictability based on annual cholesterol tests. It appears that heart disease has many risk factors other than cholesterol that have not been tested for previously. It also appears that we have not understood that a major culprit in cardiovascular disease is the “soft plaque” in the arteries and not the traditional calcified plaque that was thought to gradually build up and “clog” the artery.

A newer laboratory test called the VAP Cholesterol Test analyzes fantastic new markers to help predict cardiovascular disease. Researchers have “cracked open” the lipid molecules in the bloodstream and found at least 10 new items critical to evaluate heart disease. These include Lp(a) (lipoprotein a), VLDL and VLDL-3 (very low density lipoproteins), Non-HDL (non-high-density lipoprotein), IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein), real LDL (real low density lipoprotein) and real-LDL-C size pattern, remnant lipoproteins, and HDL2 and HDL3 (high density lipoproteins 2 and 3). VAP Cholesterol Test markers, when abnormal, have been found to be “positive” indicators even when traditional markers like total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides are “normal.”

Another accurate marker that can now be evaluated is the homocysteine level. When homocysteine is elevated, the risk of heart attack and stroke has been shown to be three times higher than with normal homocysteine levels.

C Reactive Protein–High Sensitivity is another blood marker that is elevated with any inflammation in the body, but also correlates with an increased risk of heart attack. Another is fibrinogen, a protein normally found in the blood that is key in helping us not bleed to death when we’re injured, but when excessive, increases the risk of clots forming in the bloodstream itself and causing heart attacks or strokes. Low testosterone levels in men, and low levels of the trace mineral selenium may increase the risk of coronary disease by 24 percent.

The ADMA (asymmetrical dimethyl arginic) test measures levels of a chemical that inhibits normal nitric oxide dilation of the blood vessels. When levels are high, researchers have found a 27-fold increase in the risk of heart attack. A high level can also reveal an increased risk of hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and insulin resistance.

Researchers have discovered that bacteria like Chlamydia, H. pylori and dental bacteria are associated with heart disease. Chlamydia has actually been found in the artery plaque and is suspected of increasing plaque formation. Cytomegalovirus and Coxsackie virus are thought to trigger plaque build-up through a complicated mechanism of “molecular mimicry.” Elevated antibody levels to these bacteria or viruses can indicate excessive levels of these harmful organisms and may be an indicator of risk.

Then there are nutrients that we need to help prevent plaque formation in the blood vessels. These include antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. Evaluating whether or not we have optimal levels of these nutrients can help us know how close we are to obtaining a truly heart-protective diet.

We can take a totally non-invasive look into the arteries and see if plaque is developing years before an EKG or stress test (nuclear or regular) can indicate a problem. This technology entails 64 heart scans taken through various cross-sections of the coronary arteries and analyzed with calcium scoring. It can visualize blockages better than ever before and provides a calcium (plaque) score between 1 and 400. As terrific as this scan is, it is best not done because of the extremely high level of radiation to which you will be exposed. It provides the highest level of radiation of any of the CT scans.

Carotid ultrasound of the carotid arteries can measure the thickness of blood vessel walls, and the thicker and more inflexible the vessel walls, the greater the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Not everyone needs all of these advanced cardiovascular tests, but it is wonderful to know that they are available to help us identify our individual risk factors and understand how to reduce them. These tests are especially important when a person has a family history of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, dementia, and other increasingly preventable problems. Knowing where our genetic weaknesses may lie can be a great help in avoiding the family cardiovascular disease pattern.

If there are positive test results from any of these new tests, multiple strategies can be used to lower risks. At The Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine, we use a comprehensive approach including diet changes, nutrient supplementation, intravenous chelation, and medication where necessary. Please see Healthy for Life Weight Loss for information about our very successful weight loss program.

For further information about our programs, please contact The Center at (843) 572-1600.

Related Article

COULD STOMACH ACID IMBALANCE BE CAUSING YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS?

(There’s a Test to Find Out)

It takes more than eating organically grown whole foods to stay young and healthy. You must also have good digestion and assimilation. Foods we eat have to be broken down before they can be absorbed, and the pH balance of the stomach plays an important role in how we break down and process the nutrients. If the acidity of the stomach is imbalanced, then normal digestion and assimilation cannot occur.

The normal stomach contains hydrochloric acid, pepsin, mucin and the intrinsic factor. The hydrochloric acid and pepsin initiate digestion and the mucin coats the wall of the stomach.

Stomach acid helps pepsin break down proteins such as meats, cheeses, fish, and other foods into amino acids. Your body uses the amino acids to build and repair all of your internal protein structures including muscles, hair and fingernails. If the stomach does not produce enough hydrochloric acid, then it also does not produce enough pepsin and intrinsic factor (the substance necessary for vitamin B12 absorption). Many essential nutrients including B12, iron, calcium, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin C are all

poorly absorbed when stomach acid is low. Overall, nutrients from food are under-digested and eventually mal-absorbed by individuals with poor stomach function. The consequences of this mal-absorption are monumental.

Low stomach acid leads to alterations of your intestinal microflora. Friendly intestinal microorganisms are dependent on the natural intestinal pH balance that results when all the digestive organs are working well. Lack of stomach acidity allows unfriendly and dangerous microorganisms, such as Candida albicans and the disease-causing bacteria Clostridium difficile, to enter and overpopulate the gastrointestinal tract.

Low stomach acid may also cause problems outside the GI tract: 1) A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated that people on acid blockers have a significantly higher risk of hip fractures caused by poor absorption of calcium. 2) Likewise, low stomach acid causes a four-fold increase in the risk of pneumonias 3) Low stomach acid increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration due to decreased absorption of protective vitamins and minerals

Many people have little or no hydrochloric acid in their stomach. Very often, the main cause of poor digestion and assimilation is a low level of stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). According to a research study conducted in the early 1900’s, fifty percent of people over the age of sixty had significantly low stomach acid.

Many who have symptoms of hyperacidity, such as reflux, may actually have low stomach acid. Doctors don’t usually recognize the seriousness of this problem and make the problem worse by prescribing medications that suppress stomach acid production. This practice makes acid blocking drugs among the most prescribed medicines in the United States. Rarely is stomach acid measured before acid blocking drugs are prescribed, and once prescribed, patients often remain on them for many years. These drugs can make patients feel better temporarily, but turning off the stomach’s acid production results in poor digestion and assimilation of nutrients that are vital for the body’s ultimate health.

Since many of the symptoms of too much acid and little to no stomach acid are the same, how do you know which one you have? You can only know if you test the acid contents of your stomach. This testing can be done by means of the Heidelberg Capsule Test, a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool for measuring pH levels and detecting imbalances in the digestive tract. The Heidelberg test is like a window into the digestive system. It tells us about food absorption and digestion by obtaining an accurate measurement of the pH balance of the stomach. The Heidelberg pH Capsule is a high-frequency radio transmitter and pH sensor encapsulated within a special polyacrylate (plastic) covering. The capsule is about the size of a multi-vitamin and is designed to be swallowed. It measures and transmits the pH levels in the digestive system and the re-acidification time of the stomach’s parietal cells. The Heidelberg Capsule system is one of the most valuable tools a doctor can have for safely and accurately determining disorders of digestion. Mal-absorption, stomach gas, belching, bloating, flatulence and irritable bowels can be addressed more thoroughly when the pH of the stomach is monitored. This test will accurately diagnose a patient who may have hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), hyperchlorhydria (high stomach acid), achlorhydria (no stomach acid), pyloric insufficiency, or heavy mucus.

The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine is one of the very few clinics in the United States able to perform this highly accurate Heidelberg test to assess the root cause of digestive symptoms.

At the Center, we are committed to bringing you the most advanced and scientifically proven medicine. If you are suffering from fatigue, depression, mal-nutrition, acid reflux, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, chest pain, or neurological disorders, you may be a candidate for this test. Based on your test results, the doctors will recommend individualized supplementation to help rebalance your stomach pH.

Call The Center to set up an appointment to determine if you are properly digesting and assimilating the foods you eat, so you can prevent all the adverse effects of stomach acid imbalance.

There is a scientific evidence-based approach to bone building that does not involve taking bone-building drugs. This program can provide superior results to combat osteoporosis.

It is estimated that 50 percent of postmenopausal women have osteopenia, or early bone loss, and a smaller but very significant number of women have severe bone loss or osteoporosis. It should be no surprise then to see the large number of women who are prescribed bone-building drugs like Fosamax. What is surprising though is that physicians seem unaware that these drugs can cause a serious destruction of the jawbone, induce cardiac arrhythmias, and may be causing an increase in esophageal cancers. It also has been shown that the new bone formed in response to many of the bone-building drugs is actually more fragile than normal bone.

We hope that those of you who are currently taking bone-building drugs will discuss these findings with your primary care physicians and consider safer alternatives. We urge women, as well as men, to not risk taking the currently prescribed bone-building drugs. Our philosophy is to always look for safer and more natural treatment options for health problems.

At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, our Bone Building Program begins with a comprehensive diagnostic work-up, including specialized laboratory testing to measure the rate at which bone is being resorbed, or broken down. This test does not involve harmful radiation and is a safe and effective tool to assess the rate of bone remodeling. Depending upon an individual’s history, laboratory testing to determine levels of many different hormones, as well as specific nutrient levels, may also be important parts of the initial diagnostic process.

Since our goal is to build new bone that is strong and healthy, our treatment includes a balanced nutrient program. Building bone is a complex process that requires calcium, but also the right proportion of phosphorous, boron, Vitamin K2, and anabolic tissue building hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, growth hormone, and estrogen. Vitamin D is essential in promoting the absorption of calcium from our food. [Also see our information on Vitamin D.] Mother was right–milk products can provide bone-building proteins, too, but better alternatives are available for those sensitive to dairy. All of these nutrients are essential to prevent bone loss in our older years.

When there is serious, ongoing loss of bone, one more magic bullet is needed, one that is far superior to and safer than Fosamax or similar drugs. That magic bullet is the mineral Strontium, and when it is combined with the above nutrients in the proper balance, it can triple the bone growth normally achieved with drugs and with NO side effects.

In addition, when laboratory tests reveal hormone deficiencies or imbalances, Natural Hormone Balancing, using bio-identical hormones in proper ratios based upon the results of testing, can safely boost natural bone building processes.

For more information about our Bone Building Program, please call The Center at (843) 572-1600, and speak to our New Patient Coordinator, Cathy. For additional information and supporting documentation on this protocol, please refer to these three papers which are a sampling of several on the topic:

Why should we as parents and consumers be concerned about heavy metal toxicity?

It is important to recognize that heavy metals interfere dramatically with normal physiology. There are over 3000 enzymes in every cell and enzymes are the driving force behind nearly every bodily process essential for life! Of these 3000 enzymes, half are metallo-enzymes containing about 15 trace minerals known to be essential to normal enzyme activity (including chromium, cobalt, iron, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, tin, and vanadium). The remaining 1500 enzymes do not actually contain metals but are influenced by metal-acting co-enzymes or catalysts. Thus almost no process goes on in the body without the aid of metals. If these essential metals are rendered inactive by displacement with toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and tin, then normal functioning of enzymes is compromised.

Various types of heavy metals may be absorbed into the body from not only paints, toys, and lipstick, but also dental fillings, vaccines, second hand cigarette smoke, food additives, treated lumber, or even water supplies. Heavy metal toxicity has been implicated in developmental disorders of children, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, chronic infections, and disruption of countless normal body processes.

How can we safely remove toxic metals from our bodies?

Chelation (pronounced KEY-LAY-SHUN) Therapy has been used in this country since 1948 and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in removing toxic levels of heavy metals. Chelation uses agents that are able to capture or bind toxic metals, allowing them to be safely removed from the body.

The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine specializes in safely treating toxicity from heavy metals such as lead and mercury. Young children, especially, are extremely sensitive to heavy metals, and our successful approach to children’s toxicity has been developed over decades of clinical practice.

An important first step in reducing heavy metal toxicity is to perform laboratory testing capable of identifying elevated levels of toxic metals. Testing typically evaluates levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and many others. Once the specific types and levels of toxic metals are identified, treatment may consist of chelation agents taken either orally or rubbed into the skin (for young children) over a prescribed period of time. Different heavy metals may require slightly different treatment approaches—thus the advantage of performing laboratory testing prior to treatment.

Following a slow, gradual, and carefully monitored method of chelation is especially important for removing highly reactive metals. The rate of chelation must be geared to the body’s ability to both mobilize the toxic metal and also quickly excrete it.

The Center has helped many children and adults overcome a body burden of toxic metals through our Chelation Therapy program. Some patients have seen dramatic improvements in health just from this one individual aspect of their comprehensive treatment program.

Heavy toxic metals can be a major cause, or an aggravating factor, in many diseases. Their role in making you or your child sick should not be underestimated. When no cause for disease or illness can be found, it is important to look for a hidden body burden of these toxic metals.

Methods of Chelation

We use primarily two methods of chelation: oral chelation (chelating agents taken by mouth) and transdermal chelation (chelating agents rubbed into the skin). In some adult cases, intravenous chelation may be indicated.

Prior to considering any chelation treatment, our Center’s doctors perform a Comprehensive Diagnostic Work-up, as well as laboratory testing and treatment to address many aspects of disease. For those individuals with arteriosclerosis or related problems, we normally use oral nutrients, including Vitamin K2 and specific enzymes taken between meals, to reduce plaque in the blood vessels. In some cases when a body burden of heavy metals is clearly documented and does not respond to other measures, intravenous chelation may be utilized for an adult as part of a comprehensive treatment program.

To ensure optimum results and the safety of patients who undergo chelation, we perform pre-chelation testing and other recommended screening measures. The Center follows all protocols recommended by the American Board of Chelation Therapy.

Each intravenous chelation treatment consists of a slow intravenous drip of EDTA, a man-made amino acid that chelates (binds to) toxic metals in the bloodstream and carries them away in the urine. EDTA also serves as a potent anti-oxidant, which works to change the structure of plaque that clogs arteries and contributes to many serious medical conditions. With intravenous Chelation Therapy, plaque is gradually transformed from its highly reactive state to an inert substance, which facilitates the process of gradually unblocking clogged arteries.

At The Center, we alternate intravenous Chelation Therapy treatments with intravenous nutrient replenishment treatments. This combination allows the removal of toxic metals and plaque to proceed without depleting the body’s stores of essential minerals or other nutrients. The nutrient IV’s provide the additional benefit of boosting overall nutrient status and enhancing the body’s ability to heal and overcome disease.

All three forms of Chelation Therapy used at The Center (oral, transdermal, or intravenous), when utilized as part of a comprehensive program to reduce toxic metals and replenish essential nutrients, can be very effective aids in restoring health.

Three to seven percent of children (and one to six percent of adults) have been diagnosed with ADHD, and the use of pharmaceutical drugs to treat this condition is estimated to double every six years. Why?

In schools across America, teachers and nurses find themselves having to supervise administration of their students’ ADHD psycho-stimulant medication. In order to deal with ADHD symptoms, more and more children are being placed on drugs like Ritalin, Adderal, and Concerta.

Let’s first define ADHD.

ADHD is a persistent lack of attention with the inability to control impulsiveness. This manifests as restlessness, difficulty sitting still, problems completing tasks, and may be accompanied by learning issues, decreased memory, mood swings, and even temper tantrums. As a consequence, the child’s self-esteem may be devastated and the parent exhausted.

Since there is no clear objective test to diagnose this condition, it is critical to get a second opinion and, hopefully, one opinion should be from a developmental specialist. There is a fear that many “boys who are just being boys” will be labeled in error.

What is happening in these children’s brains?

Current research indicates that there may be a “perfect storm” combining genetic predisposition (vulnerability) and environmental triggers. We in Environmental Medicine feel that “genetics loads the gun but the environment pulls the trigger.”

Professor Richard Deth of Northern University has discovered that ADHD (and autistic) individuals have problems at the D4 (dopamine) receptors of the brain. These receptors, critical to normal brain transmission and signaling, are genetically different in ADHD children and may explain their susceptibility.

Note that the susceptibility doesn’t mean inevitability!

Researchers Harding, Jodah, and Gant list in their 2003 study eight categories of triggers. The researchers can be commended for identifying and initiating research into these eight areas of possible “triggers.” This concept of triggering mechanisms is the big key and has been utilized by Environmental Medicine physicians to successfully treat this condition for nearly thirty years!

What are the treatment options for ADHD?

The traditional approach to ADHD treatment is psycho-stimulant medication. It can be very effective and has helped many. However, there are often dangerous side effects and concerns over long-term use. One study showed chromosomal breaks with Ritalin. Another study found possible growth suppression. Some children exhibit insomnia, headaches, dizziness, and loss of appetite, neurological ticks, abdominal pain, social withdrawal, fatigue, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), “Zombie”-like behavior, and the possibility of increased risk for drug addiction. Side effects often necessitate anti-depressants and mood stabilizers being used to control emotional problems that are consequences of the medicine.

Is there a non-drug option to treat ADHD?

At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, we look at the entire biochemistry pattern of the patient and utilize non-toxic treatments. After a very comprehensive initial evaluation, a battery of tests is performed to look for triggers. Testing includes tests to evaluate levels of toxic metals; hidden yeast or bacterial infections; allergies (including food allergies); deficiencies of important minerals, especially iron, as well as essential fatty acids and amino acids; and blood levels of glucose and insulin to rule out poor blood sugar control as a cause of mood swings.

Based on this wealth of information obtained from a comprehensive diagnostic work-up, we are often able to identify causes behind the behavior of ADHD. With proper diagnosis, treatment becomes much easier, and more importantly, more effective. We have been utilizing this approach at The Center for nearly 30 years and have seen wonderful success stories with many of our young patients. [See Success in Treating Attention Deficit Disorder.]

If you would like help for your child or other loved one with ADHD, please call The Center at (843) 572-1600 and talk with one of our staff. ADHD doesn’t have to limit your child’s potential. Please remember adults also suffer from ADHD and these same principles apply. When the causes are identified, there are a multitude of natural and effective treatment options available.

At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, we believe that it is inadequate to simply give children drugs for developmental disorders without evaluating and correcting underlying problems. In addition, we understand that parents are overwhelmed with the sheer volume of new research about developmental disorders, which often yields a great variety of conflicting treatment options. Parents want knowledgeable, experienced medical help putting together an effective, safe treatment program to best care for their children.

The Center’s Medical Director, Dr. Allan D. Lieberman, M.D., was board certified in Pediatrics in 1966 and sub-specialized in the academically underachieving child. He has developed a comprehensive approach to the spectrum of developmental disorders. As specialists in Environmental Medicine, he draws on their knowledge of Allergy (both food and inhalant), Immunology, Toxicology, and Nutrition to evaluate and address causes

behind developmental disorders. The Center also uses the Defeat Autism Now protocols as Dr. Lieberman is recognized as a Defeat Austim Now provider.

In the case of developmental disorders, The Center’s diagnostic work-up often includes specialized laboratory testing, depending upon a child’s history:

1) Allergy testing can be performed to determine food triggers and inhalant allergy. 2) Allergy desensitization for foods, inhalants, and chemicals can be provided to help reduce the Total Body Stress Load. 3) Structured food elimination diets can be provided to yield vital information about gastrointestinal function and food intolerance. 4) Urine tests for abnormal peptides from wheat or dairy can reveal if a gluten-free, casein-free diet would be well worth the effort to implement for a child. 5) Hair analysis of toxic metals and essential minerals can provide evidence of toxicity or deficiency, and provide clues for the safest forms of detoxification or supplementation. 6) Hidden sources of toxic pollutants are discussed, so parents know how to effectively address this area of concern. 7) Neuropeptide levels, the biomarkers of brain chemistry and function, can be tested to uncover specific imbalances that are treatable through individualized amino acid programs or other supplements. 8) Organic acid analysis (via urine specimen) can be performed to look for the metabolites of yeast and some bacteria species. This laboratory test is a valid and effective means to detect the presence of these pathogenic organisms.

In the words of Dr. Lieberman,

“When these children are tested, it is truly amazing what a heavy body burden of toxic metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and nickel), as well as industrial solvents and other toxic chemical pollutants, that are found. Rarely do we see a child who does not have significant reactions to food, inhalant airborne allergens, and ambient chemical exposures. And rarely do these children escape respiratory infection with multiple courses of antibiotic use, which results in heavy body burdens of yeast organisms in their gastrointestinal tracts. Lastly, there is also evidence that live virus vaccines, specifically the MMR, may be responsible for many cases of Autism and developmental disorders.”

“What do all these things have in common that they can cause such blatant effects in this population of children? The answer is they are altering brain chemistry and function. Some are clearly neurotoxic, and others alter brain function indirectly by affecting the gastrointestinal tract and causing a leaky gut phenomenon or by producing substances capable of causing nervous system dysfunction.”

The Center is committed to helping parents with the important detective work of what is impacting their children’s biochemistry and how to maximize and normalize brain function. Fortunately, we have the scientific tools and expertise to shorten this otherwise lengthy detective process and provide appropriate treatment to restore balance.

Our goal in working with children can be summed up by the words of Dr. Montanari of Hialeah, Florida, who ran a residential school for exceptional children. He said, “You have to reach them to teach them.” Unlocking the mysteries behind altered brain function and providing comprehensive treatment helps us to reach them, so parents and teachers can teach them.

At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, we believe that it is inadequate to simply give children drugs for developmental disorders without evaluating and correcting underlying problems. In addition, we understand that parents are overwhelmed with the sheer volume of new research about developmental disorders, which often yields a great variety of conflicting treatment options. Parents want knowledgeable, experienced medical help putting together an effective, safe treatment program to best care for their children.

The Center’s Medical Director, Dr. Allan D. Lieberman, M.D., was board certified in Pediatrics in 1966 and sub-specialized in the academically underachieving child. He has developed a comprehensive approach to the spectrum of developmental disorders. As specialists in Environmental Medicine, he draws on their knowledge of Allergy (both food and inhalant), Immunology, Toxicology, and Nutrition to evaluate and address causes

behind developmental disorders. The Center also uses the Defeat Autism Now protocols as Dr. Lieberman is recognized as a Defeat Austim Now provider.

In the case of developmental disorders, The Center’s diagnostic work-up often includes specialized laboratory testing, depending upon a child’s history:

1) Allergy testing can be performed to determine food triggers and inhalant allergy. 2) Allergy desensitization for foods, inhalants, and chemicals can be provided to help reduce the Total Body Stress Load. 3) Structured food elimination diets can be provided to yield vital information about gastrointestinal function and food intolerance. 4) Urine tests for abnormal peptides from wheat or dairy can reveal if a gluten-free, casein-free diet would be well worth the effort to implement for a child. 5) Hair analysis of toxic metals and essential minerals can provide evidence of toxicity or deficiency, and provide clues for the safest forms of detoxification or supplementation. 6) Hidden sources of toxic pollutants are discussed, so parents know how to effectively address this area of concern. 7) Neuropeptide levels, the biomarkers of brain chemistry and function, can be tested to uncover specific imbalances that are treatable through individualized amino acid programs or other supplements. 8) Organic acid analysis (via urine specimen) can be performed to look for the metabolites of yeast and some bacteria species. This laboratory test is a valid and effective means to detect the presence of these pathogenic organisms.

In the words of Dr. Lieberman,

“When these children are tested, it is truly amazing what a heavy body burden of toxic metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and nickel), as well as industrial solvents and other toxic chemical pollutants, that are found. Rarely do we see a child who does not have significant reactions to food, inhalant airborne allergens, and ambient chemical exposures. And rarely do these children escape respiratory infection with multiple courses of antibiotic use, which results in heavy body burdens of yeast organisms in their gastrointestinal tracts. Lastly, there is also evidence that live virus vaccines, specifically the MMR, may be responsible for many cases of Autism and developmental disorders.”

“What do all these things have in common that they can cause such blatant effects in this population of children? The answer is they are altering brain chemistry and function. Some are clearly neurotoxic, and others alter brain function indirectly by affecting the gastrointestinal tract and causing a leaky gut phenomenon or by producing substances capable of causing nervous system dysfunction.”

The Center is committed to helping parents with the important detective work of what is impacting their children’s biochemistry and how to maximize and normalize brain function. Fortunately, we have the scientific tools and expertise to shorten this otherwise lengthy detective process and provide appropriate treatment to restore balance.

Our goal in working with children can be summed up by the words of Dr. Montanari of Hialeah, Florida, who ran a residential school for exceptional children. He said, “You have to reach them to teach them.” Unlocking the mysteries behind altered brain function and providing comprehensive treatment helps us to reach them, so parents and teachers can teach them.

Disclaimer:
All material provided on the Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine web site is for educational purposes only. Access to the web site does not create a doctor-patient relationship nor should the information contained on the web site be considered specific medical advice for any person, patient and/or medical condition. Consult a physician regarding the application of any opinions or recommendations from this website, for any symptom or medical condition. Dr. Lieberman specifically disclaims any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, that is or may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, resulting from use or application pertaining to any of the information provided on the web site.